Police debunk SP hotel sighting: Missing Maranhão siblings Ágatha and Allan still sought after month
Authorities in São Paulo confirmed this Monday morning that children reportedly seen at a hotel in the Republic district, central São Paulo, are not Ágatha Isabelly, 6, and Allan Michael, 4. The siblings have been missing for nearly a month after disappearing while playing in Bacabal, Maranhão.
The São Paulo Civil Police had received a tip on Saturday regarding the possible whereabouts of the children, prompting an immediate investigation. Maranhão’s security forces were also notified about the potential lead.
Upon receiving the alert, São Paulo police officers visited the reported locations and conclusively determined that the children spotted were not the same as those missing from Maranhão, confirming the sighting as a false alarm in the ongoing search.
Maranhão siblings’ disappearance details
Ágatha, Allan, and a cousin vanished on February 4, 2025, after leaving to play in a forested area within the São Sebastião dos Pretos quilombola territory in Bacabal, located 250 km from São Luís, Maranhão. Their disappearance triggered a massive search operation involving hundreds of personnel.
Since the initial disappearance, over 500 individuals have participated in the search efforts. These teams comprise members of the Civil Police, the Brazilian Navy, and the Fire Department, all working tirelessly to locate the two missing children.
Three days after they disappeared, Ágatha and Allan’s cousin, Anderson Kauã, 8, was found alive. He was located in a forested area in the Santa Rosa village, approximately four kilometers from where the children were last seen.
Anderson’s rescue and aid to the investigation
Anderson Kauã’s rescue was carried out by three rural workers who were traveling through the region by cart on their way to work when they spotted the child amidst the dense vegetation. Following his rescue, the boy was transported to Bacabal General Hospital, where he was discharged on Tuesday, February 20, 2025.
Last Thursday, February 22, 2025, the Maranhão Justice Department authorized Anderson to assist in the ongoing search for his cousins. The boy provided crucial information, guiding authorities along the path he took with his cousins to an abandoned cabin, locally known as “casa caída,” situated near the banks of the Mearim River.
His insights have proven invaluable, helping to narrow down the search perimeter and focus resources more effectively in challenging terrain. The boy’s memory of the specific route and landmarks offers a glimmer of hope in a complex investigation.
Search and investigation efforts intensified
The current search operation is concentrated around the cabin indicated by Anderson and within the Mearim River bed. Specialized divers are utilizing side-scan sonar equipment to meticulously map the river’s bottom, generating highly detailed images even in turbid waters, crucial for locating any potential clues beneath the surface.
The investigation is being conducted by a special commission of the Civil Police. This commission is composed of dedicated teams from the SHPP (Superintendency of Homicides and Protection to Persons), the SPCI (Superintendency of Interior Civil Police), and the Regional Police Station of Bacabal.
Investigators continue to interview family members, local residents, and other individuals who may possess information relevant to the circumstances of the disappearance. Each statement is carefully analyzed to piece together a comprehensive timeline of events leading up to the siblings’ vanishing.
In one of the search actions, volunteers discovered new pieces of children’s clothing in a forested area within the quilombola village. According to reports from the volunteers involved, these clothes were found near a grotto, located within the defined perimeter where the children were last reported missing.
Despite initial hopes, the SSP-MA (Maranhão State Public Security Secretariat) later confirmed that, following careful examination and verification, these newly discovered items did not belong to Ágatha or Allan. This development underscored the challenges and false leads inherent in such complex search operations.
Force-task reduced and main hypothesis
The extensive search for Ágatha and Allan entered a new phase on Thursday, February 22, 2025, with the focus shifting predominantly towards police investigation. This strategic adjustment reflects the exhaustive ground coverage already completed.
According to Maurício Martin, Maranhão’s Secretary of Public Security, the entire forested area has been meticulously swept. This comprehensive effort involved the deployment of K-9 units, aerial support, thermal drones, and hundreds of professional personnel who worked systematically to cover every possible location.
The Secretary further stated that no line of investigation has been dismissed at this stage of the inquiry. All potential scenarios are being thoroughly explored to ensure every possibility is considered.
The primary hypothesis currently under consideration is that the children may have become lost in the dense forest. However, authorities are continuing to investigate all other possibilities, demonstrating a commitment to a comprehensive and open-minded approach until the siblings are found.
Maranhão missing children, Sao Paulo police, Ágatha Isabelly, Allan Michael, Bacabal disappearance, children search operation
